Moyle Way - 24th & 25th March 2012

[Craigy123]

Any more thoughts on a date for this? Also does anyone fancy doing a short leg this sunday? Maybe 6 mile dander? Thinking of a point to point where one car is left at the end and the driver is brought back to the start....

[Oisín]

Seems by the poll the majority dates suited is the 24th and 25th.

Guessing it just needs to be finalised.

[whoRya]

Are we able to confirm this date then and update the list at the top with who's in?

I'm confirmed.  Rumblebum is in too, he's on holidays so not on the forum this week.

Craigy, I couldn't make anything this Sunday.  Can I respectfully suggest that if you get the chance to get out, it would be an idea to walk a section that covers the halfway point to try to identify a suitable camp spot?

I'll look at the maps at lunchtime to see if anywhere looks to lend itself to a camp.

[Craigy123]

That's kinda what I was thinking. And like agreed we go with the majority vote. I'm just happy to get out and do the hike.

[Wolf_Larson]

that sounds great, what date is agreed?

[Dowser]

that sounds great, what date is agreed?

24th and 25th March

[whoRya]

Ok lets get talking.

Which route?

Ballycastle to Glenariff   or   Glenariff to Ballycastle?

Most people who have commented on Walk NI seem to have walked it from Glenariff to Ballycastle.  Not sure why.  Perhaps it is to get the road section from Waterfoot out of the way first?

One possible advantage of starting in Glenariff is that the journey home would be quicker since the cars at the start of the walk could be collected en-route home.  I'm guessing most people live south of the walk anyway.   The other way round we would need to go back up to Ballycastle before double-backing on the way home.
That said you'd need an earlier start on the Saturday to get cars up in Ballycastle for the end of the walk.
I'm not strongly opinionated on it either way.

Possible camping spots?

The summit of Slieveanorra is approximately 24km from Ballycastle and 18.5km from Glenariff.  There is a car park on the Altarichard Road (see section 4 of the walk), if we were camped within a few km of here then other members could easily join us for the evening or do day one or day two of the walk.

Now the summit itself is probably nothing pretty since it has a mast on top of it, the view may be ok though.  Between the open ground and the forest we should be able to find something suitable.  It also looks to be away from farm land.

There is some good information regarding areas to stay out of (farmers wishes, bulls, lambs, grouse shooting etc.) on the DOE website so I've noted some of this down.

I suppose it could depend on the direction of travel since it is probably preferable to do slightly more of the walk on the first day, leaving less to be done when the legs are tired and the day is shorter.  Would this favour a Ballycastle start?

I'll try to get up round that area before the trip and find somewhere suitable.  Hopefully Craigy will be able to also. 

Maybe we should take the discussion of exact spots into the members section?

Any other thoughts so far?

[Craigy123]

Beside the mast has some flat land but its always windy and cold. There are a few nature reserves close by the route in section 4, would it be ok the set up camp in one corner? maybe.... I'm gonna drive by a few places for a look. Dying with the cold so a walk may not happen but I can take a look.
As for direction...Ballycastle will have a bar to have a "well done" drink in. Plus more parking options.
This may be a boggy walk so I'll be getting some gaiters (miss placed some nice ones).

[Craigy123]

Was up round a few sections of the Moyle way close to roads, not many decent camp sites close by(none). There Might be some decent ones towards the summit of Orra herself but I'll check them out next week. Can we get the date put on this and a potential attended list pretty please?

[admin]

Maybe we should take the discussion of exact spots into the members section?

This thread has been moved to members only. Will be moved back to Meets after the event.

[Dowser]

Was up round a few sections of the Moyle way close to roads, not many decent camp sites close by(none). There Might be some decent ones towards the summit of Orra herself but I'll check them out next week. Can we get the date put on this and a potential attended list pretty please?

Was up round a few sections of the Moyle way close to roads, not many decent camp sites close by(none). There Might be some decent ones towards the summit of Orra herself but I'll check them out next week. Can we get the date put on this and a potential attended list pretty please?

Pretty sure the date for this has been decided above by vote and discussions.  the weekend of the 17/18th doesn't suit a lot of people because it's St Patricks Day and Mothers Day.

The date that has been selected is therefore the 24/25th.  Unfortunately this is a date that I cannot make 

[whoRya]

At the edge of section 5 on the walk you cross the Glendun River.  If you google images of the Glendun River the land at the sides of it looks suitable for camping on.  Here are a couple of images:









The last 2 images are taken from the website and Flickr account of a member on this site, Dominoyesmaybe.  His blog can be found here.  If he is unhappy at me showing the photos and wants to PM me I'll remove them.

The area looks potentially good for camping.  In the third picture you can see an area of woodland that would give good screening from the road.  It is fairly obvious on the map also.

[Craigy123]

Best site so far, but those pics clearly are not really...it looks too sunny  I like the idea of this site. I'll check it out. Can we walk from Ballycastle then to give up a shorter day 2? Also potential of a wood/refreshment stash before the walk. i'll look for somewhere.

[whoRya]

Ballycastle start is ok for me.  I think there are a couple of pubs in Waterfoot anyway for a post-walk refreshment.

[Craigy123]

Potential site found. The Glendun river doesnt really work. all areas are seriously wet and boggy within 1km of the moyle way. I have found a great wee spor which is maybe a little uneven on the other side of slieveanorra. Its 5 minutes walk from the road and only a few hundred meters off your route. its well hidden. pretty sure its 151,243 (red X marks the spot) on osni sheet 9 discoverer series. (I dont have a gps). let me know thoughts, though for roughly half way i think this is pretty good.